Well-screen cleaner



s. F. BASHARA.

WELL SCREEN CLEANER.

APPLlcATloN FILED JUNE 28,1920.

1.389,5 l 7. v Patented June 7, 11.921..

@trof/weg atented June 7 192i.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

'AM Ff @ASH ARA' Grammi u r.'y ansa f winni-sommi ci.

Laconia.

or acusaron, if

Specification of Letters atent. Patmtd June 79 19,21

Application led June 2S, 1920. Serial No. 392,153.

To all whom "it ma/y concern.

Be it known that I, SAMUEL F. BASHARA,

a citizen of the United States, residingat Houston, Harris county, Texas, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Well-Screen Cleaners, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it.y appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to devices` for use in cleaning well screens in the-production 'of oil. It frequently occurs in the pumping of oil from wells that the screen, or other perforated pipe through which the oil enters the well, becomes clogged with sand, parafn, asphaltum' or other more or less viscous material. As a result the flow of oil to the well becomes closed off and the productionv is reatly reduced or entirely ceases.l

y present invention has for its ob]ect the provision of a closure, to confine .the cleaning fluid within the desired portion of the well, which closure may be quickly and easily forced into-contracted position so that the device may be withdrawn from the well or may be adjusted to a new position as dethis application Another object is to form an expanding collar having a threaded connection with the cleaning pipe whereby it may be expanded, and wherein the threaded connection is so formed as to permit a slipping of the collar relative thereto so as tomove the collar into contracted position .without rotation of the pipein a reverse direction.

A further object is to provide a collar which may bel positively expanded, and

wherein there is a compressible means tov form a tight closure with .the screen and to permit a further compression when necessary to move said collar on the cleaner.

Provision is also made for gripping the inside of the pipe by my expanding collar when desired. I

Referring to the drawing accompanying and wherein like numerals of reference are applied to like parts throughout the several views, Figure 1 is 'a central longitudinal section through my device shown in position in a well screen. Fig. 2 is a side elevationofmy expanding collar with a sleeve of compressible material thereon. Fig. 3 is a view taken at right angles to that of Fig. 2.and showing said sleeye cut away. Fig. 4 shows a transverse section 1n the plane 4-4 of Fig. 3.- Fig. 5 1s a longitudinal section through my iniproved expanding collar, and Fig. 6 is a transverse section on the plane '6-6 of Fig.5. l i

ln Fig. 1 I have shown my device as inserted. within a screen 1 of ordinary construction consisting of a pipe provided with p erforations 3 and wound with wire to partially cover the perforations and to vprevent the entrance of foreign matter to the well. My cleaner consists of a tubular member having a central passage 5 therethrough for the flushing liquid. The central portion 6 is provided with perforations 7 to allow a passage of fluid outwardly against the screen. To confine the flushing fluid within the restricted portion of the screen, so that it may be ejected forcibly through the same, Ihave provided expanding collars 8 above and below the perforated section. These collars are fitted upon a tapered portion of the tubular member 4 in such manner that a movement longitudinally of the collar upon the tapered surface will cause said collar to expand or to contract. To allow for the said expansion, the collar is split longitudinally along the plane 9, shown in Figs. 5 and 6. The two expanding collars are identical in general construction and the description of one applies also to the-other. Considering, therefore, the upper expanding collar 8, it will be noted that at the upper end it ,is bored out smoothl for a short distance at 10 and then is t readed inwardly toward the lower end thereof, the y' whole interior surface heiligv tapered downwardly. The surface of the member 4 upon which it is mounted is tapered to accommodate the said collar and both the collar and the tapered surface are threaded so that the rotation 0f the tubular member within the collar in the usual righthand direction will cause the collar to be drawn upwardly upon the tapered surface and hence to expand the said collar. To prevent rotation of the collar during such expansion I have provided a spring 11 on each of the sections of the said collar, said spring being secured in a shallow longitudinal recess or groove 12 in the side 0f the compressible sleeve 15 fitting over said collar and secured at one end by a threaded pin or bolt 13 having its head counter sunk to set fiush with the inner surface of the threaded ortion of the collar and the outer end provi ed with a nut to retain the s ring in position. The up er end of the spring 1s, therefore, capable o longitudina movement when the spring'is coinresse p The threads 14: on the tapered surface of the tubular member t are of eculiar construction, being very shallow 1n depth and inclined sharply downward so as to engage the collar by just a suHicient amount to draw the collar upward?7 relative to the tapered portion when the evice is rotated. rIhe outersurface of the collar is provided with a covering 15, previously referred to, of compressible material, suchl as rubber, which comprises a sleeve covering the outer surface in such manner as to retain the collar in assembled position, but having slight longitudinal recesses therein for attachment of the springs 11. A shoulder or iange 35 on the lower end of the collar acts to protect the sleeve 15 from mutilation when the device is moved vertically in -the well. This compressible sleeve has a triple function in that it holds the expanded collar in assembled position; it forms a packing on the outer surface of the collar to secure a closer contact with the inner surface of the screen, thereby preventing passage of fluid past the collar; and it also allows a slight outward movement by further compression when necessary to permit the slipping of the collar upon the tapered surface 14 as will be later described.

2iWhere the collar is split longitudinally the expansion thereof Wlll form longitudinal openings or slots between the parts of the expanding collar which would tend lto allow the passage of fluid thereby. To avoid this, I have provided at the upper end of the collar a countersunk plate 29, which consists of a thin sector-shaped strip of sheet metal riveted or otherwise attached at 30 to one of said sections and overlapping the split portion so that when the collar is expanded it will serve to close the upper end thereof and thus prevent the passa e of fluid through the same. Upon the si e of the collar, and overlappin the slot caused by the expansion of the co lar, I may also provide a similaroverlapping plate 31 which is also countersunk within the outer surface of the collar and attached to one of said sections and overlapping onto the other of said sections so as to permit expansion without exposing the opening thus caused. I also contemplate providing a tongue and groove member 32 at some point along the connecting faces of the two parts of the collar, as shown in Fig. 6. The purpose of this tongue and groove is to prevent longitudinal movement of the separate parts of the collar relative to each other. As will be obvious it also acts to assist' in v panded.

reader? preventin the passage of the Huid longitu-v dinally o the collar when the same is ex- Above the tapered portion upon which the collar fits the tubular member is of slightl llarger diameter, forming a head at 16, an is recessed slightly at 17 to provide an annular seat to receive the protecting 'ring 18 which projects slightly beyond the outer surface of the collar when the said collar is in contracted position, but as will.

be seen in the drawing, when the collar is inv the expanded position shown in Fig. 1 the collar will be forced outwardly beyond the protecting rin to close thei space within the screen. The' upper end of the tubular member is threaded at 19 for attachment to a length of ordinary drill stem 20.

Between the expandin collars the central section 6 of the wel cleaner is perforated as described and provided with a brushing means 21. These brushes may be fixed to the outer surface of the cleaner in any preferred form, but'I have shown them fixed within a short' plug 22 adapted to be screwed within a seat in the outer surface of the cleaner and having 'an inner opening registering withv a perforation 7 to allow the passage outwardly from the brushing member so as to moreeiiiciently wash away the material that is loosened by the Hushy ing means.

-At the lower end of the cleaner, below the expanding collar, another vbrushing means may be provided similar to that upon the perforated section of the cleaner. I have also shown the lower end of the cleaner as having the central passage 5 enlarged to form a chamber 34, said chamber being closed at the lower end by means of a valve member 23, said valve memberhaving a central passage 24 therethrough from which branching channels 25 may conduct the fluid to the lower end of the screen. The passage 24 is closed by means of a valve 26 mounted upon the upper end of the squared shank 27 of a bit 28. The s uared shank 27 is slidable longitudinally wit in the valve member 23 which is provided with a squared opening in the lwer end thereof to fit closely about the said shank.

The operation of my cleaner will now Lbe l blade 28 in the lower end will serve to stir bein up or loosen material in the bottom of the well thus placing the same in condition to be acted upon by the Huid.

When it is desired to force the flushing fluid outwardly through the screen, the col lar 8 will be expanded. This will be done by rotating the pipe in a right hand direction thus drawing the collar upwardly on to the larger end of the tapered portion, and forcing-the collar outwardly. The springs 11 will act to prevent the rotation of theJ collar when the same is to be expanded. The flushing fluid or cleansing material may then be forced downwardly through the channel 5, the valve 26 closing the lower end o-f said passage and hence the said fluid will be forced outwardly through the perforations 7, and as it is confined between the collars 8, it will be projected outwardly against the screen and through the perforations therein, cleaning the same of sand or other deposits which may be thereon. The flushing fluid will pass upwardly outside of the screen and will enter the screen above the upper collar and thus pass upwardly to the surface.

When it is desired to loosen the expanding collar so that the cleaner may be moved to another position within the well, the drill pipe 20 is given a sharp upward movement. This will tend to draw the tapered member upwardly through the expanding collar which will be forced slightly outwardly, compressing the sleeve 15 slightly and the collar will drop downwardly into contracted position. This method of loosening the collar will obviate the necessity of rotating the string of pipe, to which the cleaner is attached, in a lefthand direction and thus avoid the unscrewing of pipe in the well. The advantages of this construction will be obvious without further description.

What I claim 'as new and desire to protect with Letters Patent, is:

1. In a cleaner for well screens, a perforated pipe, a tapered surface on said pipe having threads formed thereon, said threads shallow and inclined sharply downwar a divided collar fitting on said tapered surface and having shallow interior threads formed to fit the threads on said surface, and compressible means to hold the parts of said collar together.

2. In a cleaner for welll screens, a perforated pipe having a downwardly tapered surface, shallow downwardly inclined threads on said tapered surface, and a longitudinally divided collarformed with interior threads shaped to fit upon said tapered surface and adapted to slip thereon.

3. In .a cleaner for well screens, a pipe perforated intermediate its ends, downwardly tapered surfaces above and below the perforated portion, longitudinally dividedcollars on said tapered surfaces and coperating means on sald collars and said tapered surfaces adapted to draw said collars upwardly on said tapered surfaces when said pipe is rotated and to allow, said collars to slip downwardly when desired.

4. In a cleaner for well screens, a pipe perforated intermediate its ends, downwardly tapered surfaces above and below the perforated portion, longitudinally divided collars fittlng on said tapered surface and threaded thereon by means of shallow downwardly inclined threads, means on said collar to prevent rotation thereof and compressible means on the outer face of said collar to hold it in assembled osition and close the space between said col ars and said pipe.

5. In a cleaner for well screens, a pipe, an expanding collar thereon, said collar and said pipe being formed with coperating shallow inclined threads arranged to allow a longitudinal slipping of the collar relative to the pipe in the manner described.

6. In a cleaner for well screens, a pipe, said pipe having a tapered surface thereon, shallow inclined threads on said surface, a split collar fitting thereon and having interior threads formed to engage those on said pipe and to slip relative thereto, and a compressible sleeve. to retain said collar in position.

7. In a device of the character described, a pipe having a tapered surface thereon, an expanding collar fitting on said tapered surface, means to advance said collar on said tapered surface and expand the same, said means also adapted to allo-w slipping of said collar relative to said tapered surface to permit contraction of said collar in the manner described.

8. In a device of the character described, a conical surface, a longitudinally divided collar thereon, means to advance said collar on said tapered surface and expand the same, means to retain said collar in assembled position and means to contract said collar without rotatinosaid surface.

9. In a device of5 the character described, a member having a tapered surface thereon, a longitudinally divided collar on said surface, means to move said collar axially on said surface and' expand said collar, said means allowing slipping of said collar on said surface without rotation of said member.

10. In a cleaner for well screens, a perforated pipe, a tapered surface at one end thereof, a longitudinally divided collar thereon, a sleeve of compiessible material on said collar, means to expand said collar and means on the lower end of said collar to protect said sleeve from mutilation.

In testimony whereof, I hereunto aflix signature this the 24th day of June, A. 1920.

SAMUEL F. BASI-IAEA. 

